How to find all the Harry Potter filming locations in Oxford

Sarah Latham Copyright Oxford Harry Potter

If you’re into Harry Potter, it wont have escaped your attention that there are a number of Harry Potter filming locations in Oxford. A fantastic day trip from London, there are a number of reasons to visit this famous university city, but if your reason for visiting this 1,000 year old city is for Harry Potter filming locations, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to discover how to find all the Harry Potter filming locations in Oxford.

What to know before visiting the Harry Potter filming locations in Oxford

To know before visiting Harry Potter locations in Oxford: Examinations

There’s a few important things to know before visiting the Harry Potter filming locations in Oxford so you are prepared for your Harry Potter Oxford day. Firstly, many of the locations are within university colleges and, as we learnt when we visited ourselves, if there are examinations on, some areas won’t be available (for us this was the Great Dining Hall – not such a big worry given this isn’t an actual Harry Potter filming location – and part of the Bodley Staircase – a bit of a shame, but as you can see we were still able to snap a few photos). Also, don’t assume the examination period is when you remember it from your university days, we visited during the first week of term and was hit with the examination period for students other than undergrads. It’s just something to keep in mind when visiting the Harry Potter locations in Oxford.

To know before visiting Harry Potter locations in Oxford: Cost of Entry

Sadly every single Harry Potter filming location listed below is behind a paywall – You need to buy tickets to enter Christ Church College and New College and you can only enter the Bodleian Libraries with a paid guided tour. I’m a big fan of visiting the Harry Potter filming locations across the UK (suggested reads: All of the Harry Potter filming locations in Lacock, Harry Potter locations in Scotland you need to visit, & Harry Potter locations in London you must visit) so I was happy to pay, but it’s an important thing to note before visiting for the Harry Potter filming locations in Oxford. I’ll break down what we paid for each Harry Potter filming location and where to book (or get updated prices if needed).

To know before visiting Harry Potter locations in Oxford: It’s Walkable

All the Harry Potter locations in Oxford are walkable distances to each other, which is an added bonus when visiting. Please note that you need to be able to climb stairs to visit the Duke Humfrey’s Library in the Bodleian Libraries but otherwise it is mostly an easy walk between the sights (although you will need an umbrella if visiting on a rainy day as the walk between each place is outside).

Christ Church College

Christ Church College is found towards the southern end of Oxford (Google Maps location here). There are a few ways you can visit Christ Church College (multimedia tour, guided tour or a special event). We chose a multimedia tour (essentially paying for entry to the college with an audio guide to listen to as you explore if you like). Tickets are slightly cheaper if you buy them online rather than on the door and when we pre-booked them for our visit they were £16 per adult. During July and August the prices are again slightly higher than the rest of the year. You can check the up to date entry prices here.

It is recommended that you book in advance to visit Christ Church College to ensure you don’t miss out. Due to its popularity Christ Church College entry tickets are only released the Friday for the following week.

1. Christ Church College: The Great Dining Hall

As mentioned above, the Great Dining Hall in Oxford isn’t a Harry Potter filming location but it is heavily associated with the Great Hall in the Harry Potter franchise so it’s been included in this Harry Potter Oxford list. This is normally available to visitors; however, as mentioned above, we visited during university examinations it was not open for visitors so we had to miss out on seeing this.

2. Christ Church College: Bodley Staircase

One of the main reasons to visit Christ Church College (if you’re here to seeing Harry Potter Oxford filming locations!) is to see the Bodley Staircase. This is instantly recognisable as the staircase seen in Harry Potter when the students arrive into Hogwarts for the first time. As mentioned above, this staircase was closed due to examinations (the staircase leads to the examination rooms) but the staff nearby were happy for us to take a few quick photos on the bottom steps (I cropped out the ‘staircase closed’ sign in front of the stairs!). So if exams are on when you visit and you stay respectful and quiet, hopefully you’ll also still be able to snap a few pictures on the Bodley Staircase (and if you aren’t allowed to get on the stairs, you can still take a photo of the stairs without anyone else on them, at least).

3. Christ Church College Cloisters

A smaller scene, but a Harry Potter filming location in Oxford nonetheless, occurs at the cloisters of Christ Church College. In Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, shortly after Harry is made seeker, Hermione walks Harry down a corridor to show him that his father was also a seeker during his time at Hogwarts. It is the Christ Church College cloisters that they walk down in the film.

Oxford Sarah Latham Copyright Harry Potter Filming Locations Christ Church Cloisters

New College

New College is home to two more Harry Potter filming locations in Oxford and can be found in the east of Oxford (Google Maps location here). Unlike Christ Church College, it is not recommended to book in advance (and we couldn’t find anywhere to do this online) and you can buy your entry ticket at the door. Tickets are £8 per adult (you can check up to date prices here). As examinations were on in New College as well (limiting areas that were available) we were given slightly discounted tickets but thankfully for New College, examinations had no impact on seeing the Harry Potter filming locations in Oxford here. Please note that there are different opening times for New College throughout the year (with winter only being open for 3 hours each day) so please check opening times here before visiting.

1. New College Courtyard and Tree

If you’re an avid fan, you’ll recognise this Harry Potter Oxford filming location straight away. This tree is where Draco Malfoy is sitting and jumps down from when confronting Harry after he is entered in the Triwizard Tournament in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Why so tense, Potter? My father and I have a bet, you see.

This Harry Potter Oxford filming location is especially memorable because this scene continues with Mad Eye Moody turning Draco into a ferret. When we visited it, it was very quiet but as we were leaving a large Harry Potter Oxford walking tour came through, so depending the time you visit you may need to wait a little bit for a photo opportunity.

2. New College Cloisters

Another Harry Potter Oxford filming location in New College is right near the tree in the courtyard: It’s the New College cloisters. These cloisters are shown in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire when Harry has to push past Hufflepuff students who are wearing the ‘Support Cedric Diggory. Potter Stinks’ badges. Due to the proximity of both these Harry Potter Oxford filming locations at New College you can visit both fairly quickly.

Sarah Latham Copyright Oxford New College

Bodleian Libraries

The Bodleian Libraries were my favourite part of exploring Oxford, whether you’re a Harry Potter fan or not. Like the earlier locations, you need to pay to enter the Bodleian Libraries, but unlike the earlier Harry Potter locations, you can only enter on a guided tour that leaves at set times throughout the day. There are a number of tours that you can choose (from 30, 60 and 90 minutes in length), but if you are only interested in Harry Potter Oxford filming locations than you only need to book yourself on the 30 minute tour as this covers both the Divinity School and the Duke Humfrey’s Library. Tickets for the Bodleian Libraries tour go on sale a month in advance and it would be wise to book this as soon as you know you are visiting Oxford as they will sell out. You can book your tickets and find more information here.

Missed out on booking ahead? There are a small number of tickets for sale on the day at Weston Library on Broad Street (although, please confirm with the library if this is still the location they sell additional tickets out of – this information should be available here). As we had missed out on pre-booking tickets for the Bodleian Libraries, we were at Weston Library at 9am for opening to ensure we could get tickets. As mentioned above, the Bodleian Libraries were my favourite part of Oxford (and my favourite Harry Potter Oxford filming locations to explore) so I would recommend including this in your Harry Potter Oxford must see list (even if you miss out on pre-booking and need to try and get the tickets on the day!)

After we bought our tickets at 9am, we returned at 1230pm for our guided tour. You can find the Bodleian Libraries tour start point at the inside entrance to the Divinity School on Google Maps here.

1. Bodleian Libraries: The Divinity School

I suggest arriving 5-10 minutes before your Bodleian Libraries tour as we were asked to wait inside the Divinity School for the tour to commence and this meant we had more time to get photos. The Divinity School is a 15th century room that features as two different scenes in Harry Potter. Firstly (and what it is mostly known for), this Harry Potter Oxford filming location is used for Hogwarts’ Hospital Wing. Secondly, it was also used in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as the room where the students were taught to dance by Professor McGonagall. This room is where the Bodleian Libraries tour commences and you’ll be taught a lot about the building and purpose of this room before continuing on to the Duke Humfrey’s Library above.

2. Bodleian Libraries: Duke Humfrey’s Library

One of the most impressive Harry Potter filming locations in Oxford is the Duke Humfrey’s Library. This library is only accessible via the Bodleian Libraries tour. An impressive location in its own right, the Duke Humfrey’s library has been used by famous scholars over the years and is still in use by students today. With some parts of the library dating back to 1487, on the tour you’ll only be able to view a smaller part of the library on the tour but you’ll learn a considerable amount about the history and ongoing importance. For those here for Harry Potter Oxford filming locations, the Duke Humfrey’s Library was used as the Hogwarts’ library Restricted Section in the Harry Potter films.

An additional Harry Potter Oxford filming location, not in the film

After exploring the many Harry Potter locations in Oxford, you’re likely to be ready for a drink. The Turf Tavern is an old pub in Oxford that says they have been frequented by many famous celebrities, including the Harry Potter cast and crew, who they say would come down for a drink after filming. You can find the Turf Tavern in the centre of Oxford here. A pretty good way to finish your day exploring all the Harry Potter filming locations in Oxford!

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